Chromite from the Blue Ridge province of North Carolina

American Journal of Science
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Abstract

Accessory chromite in dunite shows a variety of textures that indicate alteration. One group, type A, consists of four types of chromite: clean chromite; lattice chromite, in which the invading chlorite occurs along three directions in the (100) plane; optically zoned chromite; and poikiloblastic chromite. Most of type A chromites are surrounded by chromian clinochlore. The other group, type B, consists of euhedral to subhedral chromite grains which are included in olivine or pyroxene. The accessory chromites define a trend exhibited by chromite from other areas that have undergone metamorphism. Olivine-spinel geothermometry indicates equilibration temperatures near 700 degrees C, roughly consistent with mineral assemblages in the host gneisses. Thus, the Blue Ridge dunites are metamorphic rocks and not primary mantle peridotites.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Chromite from the Blue Ridge province of North Carolina
Series title American Journal of Science
DOI 10.2475/ajs.284.4-5.507
Volume 284
Issue 4-5
Year Published 1984
Language English
Publisher American Journal of Science
Contributing office(s) Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center
Description 23 p.
First page 507
Last page 529
Country United States
State North Carolina
Other Geospatial Blue Ridge province
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